Printable View
O.k. ladies...so my niece asked me to make an extra buttonhole on her semi formal dress because the straps are too big. She's 15 and saw my sewing machine out (because I've been quilting) and as kids do she thinks that means I can do anything! Lol. So, I've been practicing buttonholes for the past hour :( I've some what figured it out except I can't get the hole guide to sew the new buttonhole at the place I mark....any suggestions??? It keeps sewing the hole above where I mark. Help please?
You may have to put the buttonhole guide either at the top or the bottom of the mark. I can never remember which one, so I do a few practice holes myself. Once you figure it out, make a note right in the instruction manual so you don't fight it so long the next go around!
Good luck!
Agreed! I so rarely sew buttonholes that I have to do practice runs a couple of times before touching the good fabric. I would mark on my sample where I want that buttonhole to be by drawing a vertical line the size I want my buttonhole. Sorta like this !---! only the dashed line would be drawn vertically, the exclamation points horizontally. Pay careful attention to where you place the needle to begin the buttonhole. I would even lift the needle a bit and mark where the needle is going to begin stitching. That way you can make the adjustment necessary to hit the mark "spot on" when you go to sew the straps. I would also use marking chalk and mark the same vertical line on the strap.
Also, I don't know what foot you're using, but on my Viking it's a plug-in sensor foot. If I'm working on something really skinny and the wheel isn't on the fabric it won't reverse when it's supposed to so I have to add some fabric under it. Kinda crazy but that's the only way it works. The entire mechanism has to come in contact with fabric or it doesn't work right. Good luck! I don't suppose you could just pin the straps in place inside the dress? Good luck! That would be too easy, right? Haha.
I guess every machine is different I have Janome machines, you make the mark and make sure the needle is over that spot and it goes back from that spot. If you have to control your own buttonholes, it should work the same. I have a memory feature on mine, they work more dependably than the sensor, I've made buttonholes in 15 costume blouses in no time flat with the memory feature. But I hold my breath the entire time! Good luck!
I have a Janome too. I think I made buttonholes with it at one time and it was a lot easier than the Viking. I do buttonholes so seldom that I have to learn all over again each time the task comes to the forefront.
I recently had to make some buttonholes with my machine but didnt know how. My only teacher was YouTube. I can't remember which one I watched but this one is close enough. The lady uses a Janome and my machine is a Janome as well. Not sure if all attachements work the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlg92GM_c2M
Oops I read your original post too soon and went off to search Youtube LOL. I had this same problem too that I was sewing off my mark. I ended up moving my fabric either up or down depending on where my machine would sew after I marked. It took a little while but I nailed it eventually. I believe my machine would sew above my mark so I moved my fabric away frome me after I had marked it.
Denis - I don't think it could possibly be any easier than that! Thanks for posting the link to the tutorial.
Thanks so much ladies and for the tutorial too. I will practice tonight and let you know how it goes. My niece will be so happy!
Watch if you use the Janome sensor that you don't let the fabric bunch up behind the buttonhole foot, make sure it lays smooth on the sewing table. If the sensor feels anything behind it, it can mess up. This is why I use the memory buttonhole, not the sensor, less chance for mess ups. You just make the first one manually by pushing buttons, then it remembers and makes as many as you want the same size..
My Bernina has a separate foot attachment and you drop the button in the back and it makes the hole to fit your button. This is great for most buttons, but it won't do tiny or jumbo sized ones. I have to go "Old School" for those and mark & free-form them.
O.k. so I did about 15 practice runs and the last five looked great. I tried it on the dress and it was a mess! I tried ripping out the thread to start over, but it still looks bad. The only thing I can think is that the needle isn't right...the dress is a poly material, very lightweight little sun dress. The thread is knotting up and not following the pattern that my machine is set on. If I go back to my practice fabric it works fine...help.
Murphy's law, what can go wrong will go wrong, especially on a special garment! So sorry for your woes!Quote:
Originally Posted by hopefulquilterjennifer
So, I got a new needle, one that was meant for sheer fabric and it worked! It wasn't very pretty since I had messed it up twice before, but it worked. At least you can't see the buttonhole! LOl. All that matters is that I'm learning, even if it's the hard way. Thanks girls.